GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI will go head-to-head with a man he always expected to become a manager during their days together at Juventus.

The 72-year-old Republic of Ireland boss is revered for the job he did in two spells with the Turin club, the first of which saw him work with midfielder Cesare Prandelli, his latest successor as Italy coach.

Prandelli may not have been one of the superstars in the team, but Trapattoni knew he could always rely on him, and expected him to go on to bigger things.

Tonight, the pair will be in opposite dugouts at the Maurice Dufrasne Stadium in Liege for a friendly encounter in which a much-changed Ireland side will attempt to maintain their impressive recent record against one of the giants of international football.

For Trapattoni and Prandelli, it will also be a pleasant reunion, and one to which the older man is looking forward both on and off the pitch.

The Republic boss said: “He (Prandelli) was my player and I have a great affection for him, and I wish him the best of luck for the (Euro 2012) qualifying campaign. But I am not wishing him good luck for tomorrow.

“He was a very intelligent player – he wasn’t the best player when I had him at Juventus, but he was a great man, one of those players that any coach would like to have.

“He was a reserve, but he was one of those reserves that you could count on – and when you needed him, he was always ready to step in and be counted.

“A great team needs reserves like that, reserves who are always ready to step in and deliver. It’s a coach’s dream.”

However, Trapattoni will have no qualms about upsetting his former stalwart when the pair meet at the home of Standard Liege.

The Ireland boss will again take a look at some of his fringe players with several of his key men – Shay Given, Richard Dunne, John O’Shea, Kevin Kilbane, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane – missing.